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Monday, December 25, 2017

Hi friends! Your hostesses here at Seriously Write wish you and your families a merry Christmas and a happy New Year! We'll be taking the week off to spend time with our families, but we'll be back with you daily beginning, Tuesday, January 2, 2018. See you then!

Friday, December 22, 2017

“They
left the busy scene, and went into an obscure part of the town, where Scrooge
had never penetrated before, although he recognised its situation, and its bad
repute. The ways were foul and narrow; the shops and houses wretched; the
people half-naked, drunken, slipshod, ugly. Alleys and archways, like so many
cesspools, disgorged their offences of smell, and dirt, and life, upon the
straggling streets; and the whole quarter reeked with crime, with filth, and
misery.

Far in
this den of infamous resort, there was a low-browed, beetling shop, below a
pent-house roof, where iron, old rags, bottles, bones, and greasy offal, were
bought. Upon the floor within, were piled up heaps of rusty keys, nails,
chains, hinges, files, scales, weights, and refuse iron of all kinds. Secrets
that few would like to scrutinise were bred and hidden in mountains of unseemly
rags, masses of corrupted fat, and sepulchres of bones. Sitting in among the
wares he dealt in, by a charcoal stove, made of old bricks, was a grey-haired rascal,
nearly seventy years of age; who had screened himself from the cold air
without, by a frousy curtaining of miscellaneous tatters, hung upon a line; and
smoked his pipe in all the luxury of calm retirement.”

Of course, this passage comes from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Stave Four, if you hadn’t
picked up on that already. The “They” in the first line is Ebenezer Scrooge and
the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

When you read the first paragraph, did you feel like you
needed to take a shower? Isn’t the description of the alleys and archways
magnificently vulgar? Is “disgorged” a strong and proper verb for that stretch
of sentences, or what? And when you contemplate how life really was for some
many people in those cities—where no indoor plumbing existed—you can visualize
the health concerns immediately, adding to the disgusting setting.

Which is exactly the “feel” Dickens was striving to achieve.

Or take the next paragraph, for example. Did you know pawn
shops existed in 1843 London? Have they changed much since then? Can you
picture the “grey-haired rascal” sitting amongst the filth? Can you feel the
grime around him? Can you smell his pipe amongst the odor of greasy offal? Do
you even know what “offal” is? I had to look it up1 the first time I read this
book. Wow! Can one word sure add to the visceral feelings of a scene (no pun
intended)!

So, we ask ourselves: Can my writing look and smell and feel
like this? Why not? It may mean our vocabulary will need a facelift. Our prose
may need sharpening. Our fingers at the keyboard may need liniment. Why, you
ask? Because Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol
in a mere six weeks, and many of the words used are not in the typical
American’s verbal repertoire. Pretty amazing, if you ask me. It takes great
skill to write such a monumental book in so little time and have it only be a
novella. You authors know what I’m talking about. It’s easy to get wordy, but
it is the economy of words coupled with the message of redemption that makes
this work stand out.

So, feeling overwhelmed? Challenged to the point of stress?
Think you’ll never arrive at the lofty bar Dickens has raised? I’m sure his
reply would be something like this: “Bah! Humbug! Grab your pen and compose the
words that garner the most power. Pen a tome with descriptive language that
transports the reader to another world, another dimension, another time,
another land, another’s shoes. The kind that tickles the nose, dances in the
ear, turns the stomach, and floods the eyes. Lead them down the alleys and
archways they’d never tread on their own. Be the Grim Reaper Ghost who points
them in the direction of doom so they may find their own reclamation. For if
you only take them down soft, padded walkways or allow them to ride in cushy
Hansom cabs, they will never see how lavish a life of love, modeled after the
example of our Savior, truly is.”

Supervisory
Special Agent Blake Meyer is at an impasse. Bound and beaten in a dilapidated
warehouse halfway around the world, Blake finds himself listening to an
unbelievable story. Right and wrong warp into a despicable clash of ideologies.
Life quickly becomes neither black nor white. Nor is it red, white, and blue
any longer.

Every
second brings the contagion's release closer, promising to drag the United
States into the Dark Ages. Tens of millions could be dead within months.

Every
moment adds miles and hours to the expanding gulf between him and his family.
What is he to believe? Who is he to trust?

C. KEVIN THOMPSON
is a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a kid at heart. Often referred to as
“crazy” by his grandchildren, it’s only because he is. He’s a writer. Need he
say more?

The first three books of his Blake Meyer Thriller series are
out! Book 1, 30 Days Hath Revenge and
Book 2, Triple Time, are available!
Book 3, The Tide of Times, just
released in October! All three are on sale through New Year’s Eve! Also, the
second edition of his award-winning debut novel, The Serpent’s Grasp, is now available!

Kevin is a huge fan of the TV series 24, The Blacklist, Blue Bloods, and Criminal Minds, loves anything to do with Star Trek, and is a Sherlock Holmes fanatic, too. It’s quite
elementary, actually.

Thursday, December 21, 2017

While trying to
decide what to talk about the word anticipation
zinged into my mind. And for me, it seemed perfect. What two better things to
anticipate than Christmas and writing?During the
Christmas season it is so easy to become consumed with cooking, shopping, and
decorating that we forget to anticipate the birth of our Savior. I know His birth
took place over 2000 years ago and we all know the Christmas story. Maybe we
know it too well and maybe we need to be reminded it isn’t just a story. The birth of Jesus is a miracle and Christmas
is a time for us to experience that miracle anew. To celebrate the fact God
loves us so much He sent His Son into the world. A tiny miracle that became
that world’s greatest blessing.In a different
manner I believe we should feel a sense of anticipation about our writing. I
don’t know about you, but when that first gem of a story idea niggles at my
brain I’m full of anticipation. Midway through my first draft I may wonder what
ever made me think I could write. By the time I’ve finished revising the book
for the last time I may never want to think of those characters again. Do you know what
happens then? I send that story out and I begin to anticipate what will happen.
I hope and I pray an editor will love it. And in the case of Mistletoe Magic, when I finally saw my
first book accepted I felt a whole new wave of anticipation. For once I looked
forward to editing and I felt a strong sense of anticipation hoping my editor would like the changes. Then I anticipated
the cover. Next the release date. And then, I’ll admit, I anticipated and
feared friends, family, and strangers reading my book. But the entire process
was one of joy. God allowed my dream of being published to come true. Since then I’ve
published two other books. I’m still filled with anticipation each time I begin
writing another book and I hope I never become complacent about it. But more
importantly, I never want to become complacent about the miracle of Jesus’s
birth. What about you?
What has you filled with anticipation this Christmas season? What lies ahead in
your writing journey?

Misty Winslow is determined to find her prince, and she meets the man of her dreams through an Internet dating service. Or is he, because the new dentist in town also sets her heart aflutter. It's love at first sight for Tyler Davenport, but before he can finish his first root canal, Misty is involved in an exclusive online romance with Wes99—Tyler's online persona. How can he tell her he's the man she's been waiting to meet, and how rational is it for him to be jealous of Wes99! Soon Tyler's pulling out all the stops to woo Misty. As Christmas approaches, Wes99 and Tyler both ask her to meet them under the mistletoe. Which man will she choose?

Terri Weldon is a lead
analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, reading, and
shopping for shoes – a habit she
really needs to break. Problem is they make new, cute ones every season. One of her
favorite pastimes is volunteering as the librarian at her church. It allows her
to shop for books and spend someone else’s money! Plus, she has the great joy
of introducing people to Christian fiction. She lives with her family in
Oklahoma. Terri has two adorable Westies
– or they have her, she’s never sure which. Terri is a member of Romance Writers
of America and American Christian Fiction Writers. Her dream of becoming a
published author came true when her novella
Mistletoe Magic was published.

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

That was something I
tried to believe as year after year, rejection after rejection piled up. You
see, I had decided that I wanted to write a historical romance with a strong
faith message for the secular market. It seemed like a great plan. After all, I
would honor God by reaching out to those who needed to hear the Good News.

God, on the other
hand, had different plans. Fifteen years (and 151 rejections) later, I finally let
go of my stubborn plan and accepted His leading to write for the Christian
fiction market. That’s when He opened doors. In 2010, Soaring Home, was published by Steeple Hill (now Love Inspired).
Eleven more Love Inspired Historical novels (and three with Revell) followed in
the next seven years, culminating with Would-Be
Mistletoe Wife this month.

At the time I turned
in this latest manuscript, I didn’t know that the Love Inspired Historical line
would close. The letter announcing the closure stunned me. I felt like a boat set
adrift with no idea where to go next.

God’s timing is
perfect.

He knew that a time
of refreshment and renewal was needed. The years of multiple books per year had
taken a toll on family. So God cleared the slate. No contracts. No deadlines.
Just time to strengthen relationships and refill the well of creativity.

God’s timing is
perfect.

Though no small part
of me wanted to leap at the first possibility that presented itself, I felt His
nudge to wait. He would provide the story at
the right time. Moreover, when that kernel of an idea arrived, I wasn’t
supposed to run ahead, racing through my ideas and setting impossible
deadlines. I was supposed to linger with Him.

You see, this time
we would do a project together. No guarantees it would sell. No guarantees the
story would come easily or quickly. Maybe, just maybe, this story would only be
between the two of us. I had to accept those terms before going forward.
Surrender. Not an easy concept for a woman who gripped control with two tight
fists, but a necessary one.

So I’m letting go.
Daily. And waiting as the story gradually takes shape. No timelines. Just God’s
time.

And the certainty
that His timing is perfect.

Tell us your experience with God's timing.

~~~~~~

CHRISTINE
JOHNSON is the author of twelve books for Love Inspired Historical and three
books for Revell. She was twice named a finalist for Romance Writers of
America’s Golden Heart Award®. When not writing, she loves to hike, bicycle, kayak and explore God’s
majestic creation. These days she and her husband, a Great Lakes ship pilot,
split their time between northern Michigan and the Florida Keys.

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Are you like I was, feeling guilty because I sat for long periods and clocked in little exercise? But I work full writing days on my platform, marketing, and on three books in various stages of publication. I need to sit … a lot.

I wear a Fitbit, which has told me how pathetic my exercise time has been. I set 5,000 clicks as my daily goal, but many days my Fitbit registered less than 2,000.

God has also called me as a prayer warrior. I pray for between 375 to 400 people or situations daily. This work takes me from an hour to an hour and a half. I rise at 5:30 on weekdays and get started on those prayers. On weekends, I start later.

In the past, I sometimes woke around 4 AM. I tried to get ahead and pray my prayers in bed. But as I mentioned in another post, God healed me of my insomnia, and He answers my prayers for peace. So, I knew I shouldn’t infringe on the time God has given me to rest.

One Monday, I thought I’d get in some clicks before I went to my office to start my day. We have an open downstairs. If I walk the route from

our bedroom door, ➘
across the large foyer, ➘
through the dining area, ➘
around the octagon, ➘
through the kitchen, ➘
under the arches that lead back to the foyer, ➘
through the laundry room, long walk-in closet, and the bedroom,
I can run up about 110 clicks.

So on that Monday, I felt led to pray my prayer list while I walked. I’ve memorized it, except for the new requests on the church bulletin and from my Bible study. I pray for people on lists I’ve created for:

the physically sick,
those needing emotional healing,
the grieving,
those suffering dementia and their caregivers,
those involved in Christian publishing,
writers in groups I belong to,
a list of children I’ve collected,
addicts,
family members,
friends,
church members,
unbelievers,
pastors,
Bible teachers,
lay speakers,
a prison chaplain and the prisoners,
my country,
my church denomination,
the 6 churches in our rural charge,
Christians worldwide and those suffering persecution, and
the people-groups not yet reached with the gospel.

When I checked my Fitbit, I was shocked. I had over 5,500 clicks! I’d made about 50 trips around my indoor course! I’d been so involved in praying to the Lord that I hadn’t noticed the exercise my body received.

I’ve been prayer-walking for about three weeks. After a prayer walk, I’m hot and tired, but I’m physically and spiritually satisfied.

How about you, what works in giving you exercise from sitting and writing?

About the Author

A full-time writer and speaker, Zoe M. McCarthy, author of Gift of the Magpie and Calculated Risk, writes contemporary Christian romances involving tenderness and humor. Believing opposites distract, Zoe creates heroes and heroines who learn to embrace their differences. When she’s not writing, Zoe enjoys her five grandchildren, teaching Bible studies, leading workshops on writing, knitting and crocheting shawls for a prayer shawl ministry, gardening, and canoeing. She lives with her husband in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Zoe blogs regularly at www.zoemmccarthy.com.

Gift of the Magpie

Gift of the Magpie by Zoe M. McCarthy

Amanda Larrowe’s lack of trust sabotages her relationships. The English teacher and award-winning author of middle-grade adventure books for boys has shut off communication with friends and family to meet her January 2 book deadline. Now, in the deepest snow accumulation Richmond, Virginia has experienced in years, Camden Lancaster moves in across the street. After ten years, her heart still smarts from the humiliating aftermath of their perfect high school Valentine’s Day date. He may have transformed into a handsome, amiable man, but his likeability doesn’t instill trust in Amanda’s heart. When Cam doesn’t recognize her on their first two encounters, she thinks it’s safe to be his fair-weather neighbor. Boy, is she wrong.

Monday, December 18, 2017

When the subject of Christmas gifts
comes up, most people think of packages wrapped in colorful paper and shimmery
bows, sitting under the Christmas tree, just waiting to be opened.

When I think of Christmas gifts, I think
of my dad, who passed away sixteen years ago this holiday season. He was a man
of many gifts, including the joy he shared for the traditions of Christmas.

Dad loved light—especially the light
that brightened a fresh-cut pine tree in honor of the birth of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ. Each December first, like clockwork, Dad piled his
family—all seven of us—into our Chevy station wagon and drove us to the tree
lot where, shivering in the Chicago-winter cold, we oohed and aahed
over every single tree until we found the perfect one.

Once home, with the tree safely
arranged in a metal stand and watered, Dad climbed the ladder to our attic (a
mysterious place, indeed) where the Christmas lights were stored. He’d lower
the battered cardboard box (re-used, season after season) to the floor below
and dusted it off.

Ceramic Christmas tree

Then my brother and sisters—five of
us—gathered ’round him in the living room and waited, eyes huge with wonder, as
he carefully unraveled the strands of lights and tested each one. No matter how
stubborn the bulbs, dad always managed to get them working.

Beautiful, vibrant colors turned the
room to a kaleidoscope, dancing over walls and windows with the feel of winter
magic. One by one, my siblings and I each took the place of honor beside Dad,
helping him to adorn the tree with light. Pine sap clung to our fingers, but we
didn’t care. All the while, our hearts soared with happiness and child-like
wonder.

Finally, dad gently gathered the
Christmas star from the box. Hushed with awe, we waited while Dad chose one of
us to hoist to his shoulders for the greatest thrill—placing the treasured
beacon of light—the Baby Jesus Star—atop the highest limb. Somehow, Dad always
sensed who needed that extra touch of attention, and there was never any argument.

With the lights in place (just in
time for nightfall—always) we circled the tree and held hands to sing Silent
Night. In the earliest years, the tune didn’t always carry and the words were
sometimes off, but Dad didn’t care. He knew we understood what the tree—and
especially the lights—symbolized…the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. The
most wonderful gift of all!

As a
clothing-buyer-turned-seamstress with an eye for fashion, Skylar Lannigan’s
hands whisper tender ballads over fabric. She fills a sketchbook with flowing
and whimsical designs—including versions of a to-die-for wedding dress for her
own wedding day—if she’d only find Mr. Right. She’d once imagined a bright
future with Adam Caldwell, until he took off with no explanation.

Adam Caldwell’s life has
been a series of hairpin curves since the night a tragic accident claimed
both his parents and nearly the life of his sister, Faith, as well. When Faith,
who's still recovering from her injuries, asks for help selecting a
wedding dress, Adam accompanies her to Diamond Knot Dreams. He's soon reunited
with beautiful and lively Skylar Lannigan.

Adam would love to
rekindle a romance with Skylar, but will events from their past rise up to
destroy any hope for a future?

~~~~~

﻿

Mary Manners is a country girl at heart who has
spent a lifetime exploring her joy of writing. She has two sons, a daughter,
and three beautiful grandchildren. She currently lives along the sunny shores
of Jacksonville Beach with her husband Tim.

A former teacher and intermediate
school principal, Mary spent three decades sharing her love of learning. While
growing up in Chicago, Mary worked her way to college through a variety of odd
jobs including paper girl, hot dog vendor, grocery store cashier, lifeguard,
swim instructor, pizza chef, and nanny. Many of these experiences led to
adventures that bring a touch of humor to her stories.

Mary’s writing has earned her
multiple awards including a two-time Inspirational Reader’s Choice award, the
Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, the Aspen Gold, the Heart of Excellence, and
the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award.

Mary loves long sunrise runs, ocean
sunsets, and flavored coffee. She recently conquered her fear of heights (sort
of) by completing the Gate River Run over downtown Jacksonville’s bridges last
spring.

Friday, December 15, 2017

You spent considerable time coming up with a thought-provoking
idea for a blog post, then more time writing and re-writing the piece until you
were satisfied it was worthy of national attention.

The day came when the article went live for all the world to
see, and then . . .

Nada. No comments. No feedback. Nothing.

And you pondered the results.

Did anyone read the words I so masterfully assembled? Did I touch
anyone? Encourage even one person?

You’re not alone!

But, don’t despair! No or few comments doesn’t mean we bombed!
Nor does it signify that what we wrote didn’t inspire, challenge, or move
people.

Here are three reasons why we can believe it:

1. Although readers may have LOVED
the article, they may be unable to
share something personal or unwilling
to put their thoughts out there with the possibility of being judged.

2. Some readers don’t comment
because they believe they have nothing profound to say in response, and they
don’t want to come across as being silly or shallow.

3. Technical problems may hinder
some from commenting. Did you know that Blogger/Google no longer allows
anonymous comments? So, unless a reader has an account with Google, he’s unable
to post on a blog hosted by Blogger. (However, if the settings on the blog allow “anyone,”including “anonymous” readers to leave a message, the comment may be accepted.)

The pros say if you want to generate comments, write something
controversial to spark discussion. But, here’s the thing. Seriously Write isn’t
a controversial blog. Our goal has never been to stir up arguments. Our mission
is to equip and encourage writers. And reality? Although Seriously Write has a
large following, we have a quiet audience. More often than not, we experience
more dialogue on our Facebook profiles where our team daily links the articles
than on the blog, itself.

There’s another thing we need to remember. Unless a blog is
completely deleted, our articles are available for readers ongoing—for years!

In 1904, Hope Andrews, an aspiring fashion designer, struggles
with leaving New York City. But with no job, her parents leaving the country,
and an abusive ex-fiancé refusing to accept their broken engagement, Hope
doesn’t have much choice but to give in to her parents’ wishes that she move
far away and live with her cousin indefinitely.

Talented Benjamin Greene can’t deny his passion for painting, but
guilt over a painful incident in his past keeps him from sharing his gift.
Instead, he devotes much of his days to helping his younger sibling rebuild a
farm inherited from a great-uncle. Only his brother is aware that Ben spends
his spare time in a studio on their property.

In the small rural town of Riverton, Wisconsin, Hope and Ben can’t
help but be thrown together. But as feelings for each other deepen, tension
thickens over how talent should be used. Their mutual passion for art brings
them together, but will it also drive them apart?

Dawn Kinzer is
a freelance editor, and her own work has been published in various devotionals
and magazines. She co-hosts and writes for Seriously Write. Sarah’s Smile is
the first book in her historical romance series The Daughters of Riverton,
and Hope’s Design is the second. Rebecca’s Song will
be released in 2018.

A mother
and grandmother, Dawn lives with her husband in the beautiful Pacific
Northwest. Favorite things include dark chocolate, good wine, strong coffee,
the mountains, family time, and Masterpiece Theatre.